Good Dog Bar — Restaurant in Philadelphia

🌟🍻 Good Dog Bar, Philly: A Must-Visit Vibe with Food to Match! 🍻🌟

Recommended by a thrift store gem right here in Philly (and if you know anything about Philly thrifters, you know they’re all about the vibe!), Good Dog Bar hit all the marks!

Nestled in Center City at 224 S. 15th Street, this place has been a staple since 2003 in a building dating back 100 years, exuding that historic charm that feels like stepping back in time while still giving off the perfect neighborhood vibe. From the moment we walked in, it was like being on the set of “Cheers,” Philly style, and as a Philly girl, my heart was instantly happy. 🍻💙

🕰️ Happy Hour Haven 🕰️

We arrived just in time for happy hour (Monday to Friday, 3-6 pm), and it did not disappoint! The food was so good. I didn’t even take pictures. They offer ½ priced draughts, $5 mixed drinks, $6 wines, and $6-$10 bar snacks—a steal in Center City! It’s the perfect place to unwind, catch up with friends, or just soak in the vibe with a great drink in hand. 🍷🍺

🍲🥳 Food Highlights: Stuffed and Satisfied! 🥳🍲

Let’s talk food! We ordered a little bit of everything: creamy mac ‘n cheese, flavorful empanadas, and soup to warm up—a tasty start! But the mussels—wow! Fresh, flavorful, and cooked to perfection; they were hands-down the showstopper. 🥘👏🏾 Good Dog’s menu goes beyond bar bites with thoughtful, elevated dishes, but still keeps that chill, welcoming energy. And the portions? Generous! We left stuffed for hours just off appetizers and happy hour drinks. 🍹🍴

🎉 More Than Just Food – It’s an Experience! 🎉

With its three floors, including a third-floor game room, Good Dog Bar combines history, nostalgia, and a bit of Philly quirkiness. The place is decorated with dog photos and even has a dog-friendly outdoor area where well-behaved pups can chill while their humans enjoy good food. The staff brings the Philly warmth with smiles and top-notch service, making you feel right at home. 🐶🏡

⭐️ Final Critique & Suggestions ⭐️

• Pros: The nostalgic vibe, happy hour deals, and standout menu items like the mussels make Good Dog Bar a Philly treasure. The atmosphere is welcoming, perfect for a solo trip, a date, or a group gathering. • Cons: None- yep, you read that right… No critique It’s popular, so the space can get packed, especially during happy hour. Be ready to wait a bit or head there early to snag a good spot!-it’s Philly… It’s always about the crowd – embrace the crowd, enjoy the crowd, the crowd is the vibe… If you know, you know-.., if you don’t, -you don’t deserve to be there anyway! I said what I said! • Suggestions: If you’re visiting, don’t skip the mussels (seriously!), and consider grabbing a seat by the bar for the best experience during game days. Oh, and if you’re lucky, you might catch some sun streaming in for a perfect photo op!

Good Dog Bar isn’t just a bar—it’s a vibe, a taste of Philly’s soul, and a place that celebrates community with each drink poured and plate served. Perfect for anyone looking to explore Philly’s backyard, filled with amazing food, good drinks, and true Philly charm. 🍻💙...

I can't believe I never left a 5-spot for Good Dog!

I had my first date with my (now) husband here back in April 2015 and he introduced me to it. I loved the doggo photos everywhere!

We would come back approximately on our anniversary every year for drinks and occasionally brought some trusted friends in for a burger. Love the wide beer selection.

He held my surprise birthday/engagement party here in January 2020. (Yes he made me wait five years.) We had drinks and they held a cake for us in the fridge and sliced it up when we were ready. I love that the third floor is just open space to hang out for that.

We came to Good Dog for lunch after getting mani/pedis on our elopement day in July 2020 as they had just reopened outdoor dining. I had a lovely beet salad and some kind of lemonade cocktail. It was hot that day, but we had to make sure Good Dog was a part of it!

Now, on the one year anniversary of our engagement, we did takeout from Good Dog because I received a birthday treat reward from their rewards program - $20 off?! Woah. Best deal ever.

I ordered the brisket grilled cheese and hubby (I can say that now, aww) ordered the fried grouper po' boy. We also got 2 Something Hot cocktails to-go.

Those cocktails will warm you upppp. If it snows again, I plan to get another round and walk in the snow with it. Vibe.

The brisket grilled cheese was also quite comforting after a ridiculously long unnecessary Friday of remote working. I would say the brisket to cheese ratio was probably 3:1 so in my book I don't think it qualified as a grilled cheese but NO MATTER. It was perfect, whatever it was. That aioli (I think) that came with it was also divine. I would like a whole bottle please.

Bae loved his po' boy so much he finished it before I could take a picture. That sandwich was as big as my arm. It looked good from the few glimpses I caught of it before it was gone.

And shoe string type fries are always my fave. Nice touch.

Overall, always 5 stars and thanks for being part of literally every big moment in our relationship!

I wish I had a dog to submit for the next photo contest, but alas - I am a cat lady. Maybe I'll get a picture of my brudder Champ in there some day.

ALSO: We aren't the type to do indoor or outdoor dining right now, but I did appreciate that Good Dog didn't create an "indoor" 3-sided structure outdoors. Their outdoor dining has plenty of airflow and is an open space with a roof to protect you from the elements. So if you're up for it, it seemed as safe as outdoor dining can get right now! They also have some 2-tops along side the building outside...

We ate at Good Dog Bar on a Friday night before a show at the kimmel center. We got the mozzarella sticks to start. They were warm and the cheese was good but we were severely disappointed that at $10, we only got 2! mozzarella sticks. A table next to us asked how many come in a serving and the waiter said “like 3”. I’ve noticed in other reviews the photos have 3 mozzarella sticks. Why we only got 2? not sure.

For drinks, I started off with a Sippin pretty, which is supposed to have gin, blueberry shrub, cucumber water, and lime. It was very sour and did not taste of blueberry. My partner thought it tasted like pickle juice (an image that ruined the drink for me hehe). I was not unconvinced this may have been the wrong drink delivered, but I decided to get the hot girl punch for my second drink, which was way better (9/10). My partner got the down east blackberry, which he enjoyed. He also got the stuntman raspberry sour which we also thought was very good. The draughts were overall more successful (surprisingly sweet) and had better options.

For our mains we got the short rib grilled cheese and the good dog burger. These were real highlights. The fries were crispy and delicious. There was plenty of short rib which was juicy and went perfectly with the buttered sourdough bread. The waitress recommended a medium cook on the good dog burger to melt the cheese on the inside of the patty. My partner thought the burger was very well cooked and had great flavor.

The bar has great ambience. We loved the pictures of dogs on the wall and the waitstaff was polite. We did not love the portion sizes on our app nor the construction sounds in the back, but we will definitely be returning for the...